I spent a lot of time last year trying to find a boutique in Bangalore that would retail Brass Tacks. But lately I’ve been feeling that for a brand like mine (bridge brand, between mass produced and high-end), retailing in small numbers at boutiques isn’t the way to go. When I heard from a few other designers that Raintree in Bangalore was a great place to have an exhibition, I jumped at the idea. This was a chance for me to really see how Brass Tacks is received in Bangalore, and it could be the initial steps that lead to a franchise or a branch in Bangalore.
My exhibition was on Friday and Saturday of last weekend. Low on sleep but high on nervous energy, I had set up the place the day before with help from my sales associate and family in Bangalore. Friday's sales went well, and Saturday was fantastic with a gap of only 15 minutes in the afternoon when the trial room was empty. Next time I'll have to stay for Sunday!
It was interesting to see which styles flew off the shelves and which ones didn’t elicit much of a response. I had chosen styles that were very popular in Chennai but clearly there are differences in taste across cities. Honey Dress and Sangeetha Maxi were very popular, but only a few pieces of Black Orchid and French Parfait sold. I'm really not sure why but I need to figure that out.
Organizing an exhibition is a lot more lucrative than retailing in someone else’s boutique, but it’s a lot more work too and I couldn't have managed without all the help I got from family and friends. My cousin helped me with billing and accounts on both days, my Aunt and Uncle gave me their car and driver and helped with all the packing after the exhibition was over, and my Aunt sent lunch every day for us! I am also very grateful to all the people who sent their family and friends in Bangalore to my exhibition- thank you!
So while I still have family in Bangalore, I'm planning my next exhibition! Not sure whether to have one in December (may be too cold in Bangalore for Brass Tacks clothes) or February (right before the weather starts getting warm). I guess this is the right time to start designing for a larger audience and make sure my collections work in other parts of the country.
6 comments:
wished i had been there. U were so close to home..... Anyway, from what I ahve seen of bangalore...... bangloreans love texture, design and aesthetic appeal. Knowing the kind of clientele that rain tree normally gets, i would say.... black orchid cut would ahve been attractive but farbic would be boring inspite of the texture.....french parfait is a fabric that can carry a lot of zap in it but the cut is girlish.
You would be able to judge better....but banglore does have a lot of not so yound women who indulge in western/fusion wear.
Umbaradesigns: I meant to write a blog post or at least have information about the exhibition before I left for Bangalore, but things got very busy. I have this terrible inability to estimate how long things actually take...
Thanks for your feedback about the dresses. The Black Orchid dress was also offered in a turquoise blue ikat. You feel French Parfait is girlish? Interesting.... like I said, it's interesting to see how tastes differ. It's actually a very flattering dress because of the cut and the way the fabric falls.
hey anaka,
all your designs are so beautiful..i love them all....you could try giving a deeper neck-line on french parfait. that's how i wd like to wear that dress.... black rochid has a beautiful cut. i can see my mid-age non indian expat friends here would love to wear that length (they like to cover the knees as they feel that knees do not age beautifully)...but the younger girls and fitter women wd definitely like to wear their dresses shorter like your honey-dress. who said its an easy job, but i am sooo proud of you and lets do an exhibition in muscat!!
December is vacation time and for your clothes Feb would be a good time to exhibit.
Lot of women wear black here like in the west, so i guess lot of them have the LBD! A couple of comments i heard about the French Parfait is that its dainty.
Couple of more exhibitions with more people will see your dresses fly off the shelf in no time!
Binu: Thank you so much! You know with dresses in Chennai it's hard to tell what length works. Some women want their knee covered, and others don't. I hear what you are saying about the French Parfait neckline, but I didn't want the dress to be too busy - it already has so much going on at the waist and hip.
I'd love to do an exhibition in Muscat but scared my clothes are too simple!
Madhavi: I'll keep that in mind about December vacation time. I know in Chennai December sales are good because a lot of people from out of the country come to visit, and also it's a season where people buy more. But you are right- for my clothes February is probably better. I shouldn't get carried away too soon :)
Hey Anaka, Congratulations! Glad it went off well and I love, love, love the Sangeetha Maxi!
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